Letter from the Editor: Stop censoring student media’s free speech

Lily Pace
Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:53:52 +0000
Editorials, Instagram Page, Letters from the editor, News, Opinion, academic institutions and free speech, campus free press violations, campus journalism freedom, campus media censorship, campus media freedom advocacy, campus news independence, campus newspaper distribution ban, campus press freedom crisis, campus speech suppression, censorship awareness in universities, censorship in college newspapers, censorship in higher education, censorship in student publications, censorship of campus publications, college administrators and censorship, college free press advocacy, college free speech violations, college newspaper shutdowns, college newspapers under threat, college press freedom, college press freedom violations, defend the student press, defending student editors, defending student free speech, First Amendment campus issues, First Amendment student press, free campus press advocacy [and 73 more]

A sign that reads “Stop censoring student media” in wake of the censorship of student newspapers across a few campuses this past year. Credit: Graphic by Lily Pace | Managing Campus Editor

This past year, we have seen very concerning incidents on different college campuses where a student newspaper has had their free speech curtailed or outright violated.?

In September 2024, Penn State University removed The Daily Collegian’s 35 newsstands and papers from on-campus locations without notifying the newspaper’s staff. The university said it was because of the ads that ran at the top of the newsstands (some for Kamala Harris advertisements and others with voter registration ads) and that they would restore the newsstands to their proper locations — without the ads.?

This summer, Purdue University notified the then Purdue Exponent that they would no longer help in distributing their newspapers, and were prohibited from using the name “Purdue” for any commercial reasons.?

Most recently and most concerning, Indiana University fired the Indiana Daily Student’s Student Media Director, Jim Rodenbush, after he refused to censor the newspaper by keeping news stories out of special printed editions focused on a single topic, including homecoming. Since then, the university has fully cut the remaining print editions, including special publications.?

What links all of these cases together is one common theme: university control.?

Universities don’t want “bad press” on their campuses — despite the truth etched behind every word in these papers. The longer we let universities get away with censoring students’ speech, the worse it will get.?

Prohibiting or limiting newspapers from being able to publish the news completely, including cutting off critical sources of print advertising revenue and other support newspapers rely upon to operate independently, defeats the purpose of why these papers are so important. We need to be able to inform the community on the good and the bad, and no university should have any say in that.?

Freedom of the press is critical to hold people in power accountable. This includes everyone. The university leadership is not exempt just because their name may be associated with the publication.?

The Lantern stands with the Indiana Daily Student, The Exponent, The Daily Collegian and all other student newspapers in this distressing time of censorship.

When one student newspaper’s First Amendment right is threatened, that affects all of us.?

It is appalling that this letter has to be written in the first place.

Universities — if you are not protecting the free speech of your student-ran newspapers, you are failing to keep your student body notified, you are failing to protect your students rights and you are failing your current students and alumni.?

To remain silent is to remain complicit. Stand up for student media.?

Sincerely,

The Lantern 2025-26 Editorial Staff

Lily Pace, Managing Campus Editor

Davis Beatty, Campus Editor

Grayson Newbourn, Managing Arts & Life Editor

Antonia Campbell, Arts & Life Editor

Sandra Fu, Managing Photo Editor

Olivia Rinaldi, Sports Editor

Helena Hennessy, Arts & Life Senior Writer

Daniel Bush, Campus Photo Editor

Faith Schneider, Arts & Life Photo Editor

Liam Ahern, Sports Photo Editor

Reilly Cahill, Sports Senior Writer

Ally Wolfe, Campus Senior Writer

Audrey Coleman, Managing Editor of Design

Carter Kohli, Lantern TV Campus Producer

Julia Hart, Arts & Life Senior Writer